PENANG, 23rd June 2023 – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pulau Pinang Branch extended a warm welcome to a quartet of scholars hailing from the prestigious School of Food Industry, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Thailand. These scholars, Pathomporn Mingmueang, Piyathida Dadelor, Podjamarn Inpen, and Sukitta Sarasurin, are all pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Food Process Engineering. Their academic sojourn has brought them to Penang for a transformative month-long student inbound mobility program, spanning from 25 May to 23 June 2023. This program is aligned with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both universities in 2022. The program seeks to offer a unique opportunity for global learning, particularly within the realm of food process engineering. This includes a vibrant confluence of academic enrichment and cultural exploration into Penang’s educational and culinary landscape.
Throughout the program’s tenure, these students have engaged in a dynamic array of academic and cultural pursuits. Their schedule has been punctuated by lectures, culinary courses, academic excursions, cultural immersions, and the culmination of their efforts in a comprehensive project presentation. Noteworthy among the academic activities is the HTC520 Pastry and Confectionary course, where the students have honed their skills in crafting Western desserts such as Pavlova and wedding cake. The students also have the opportunity to enroll in HTC212 Basic Eastern Cooking, where they learn about local traditional Malaysian cuisines. Additionally, they have explored the realms of electronics, mechanics, and chemistry, undertaking hands-on projects like 3D printing and gas chromatography for chemical compound analysis.
Beyond the classroom, the students embarked on academic field trips, which included a visit to the Jeruk Pak Ali Processing Factory, offering them invaluable insights into the nuances of food processing techniques. They also delved into the rich heritage, arts, and cultural tapestry of Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, guided by UiTM Pulau Pinang Branch student ambassadors. To foster an understanding of local traditions and cuisine, they ventured to the Penang Food Festival and even opened their hearts to the warmth of Malaysian homes in Alor Setar, Kedah, by visiting the families of their fellow students. The program ended with a student presentation session, marking the successful realization of their educational endeavors. The presentation provided an opportunity for them to showcase the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their stay.
As this program was meticulously designed to enhance academic and cultural exchange, it has effectively met several key performance indicators. These include the establishment of international partnerships through active memoranda of understanding and an increase in the number of inbound students. The collective efforts of these Thai scholars, guided by their hosts at UiTM Pulau Pinang, have created a valuable experience that contributes to the global mosaic of higher education. Thank you, UiTM Pulau Pinang Branch top management, especially the Rector, Professor Ir. Dr. Haji Ahmad Rashidy Razali, for the endless support. Usaha, Taqwa, Mulia.